Moving to alaska - .375 H&H recoil question, kimber talkeetna

[Vern Humphrey]

Townsend Whelen said, "The .30-06 is never a mistake." And the .30-06 in his day wasn't nearly the cartridge it is nowadays with premium bullets and better powders.

 

[Gordon]

Kick eze .pad , but http://www.mercuryrecoil.com/ is the stock insert unit.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

I live in Anchorage. Came up from the south in 05. Never looked back.

My first piece of advice is don't move to any part of town north of Dimond Blvd, and don't go to any of "the views" (Mountainview or Fairview.) This place is getting to be really bad for crime.

As for hunting rifles, I would just keep your 308 or grab a 30-06. the 338s and 375s are very popular up here, but I just don't see them doing anything you need that the 06 won't. Moose live in muskeg (mostly), and I don't think I've ever heard of anyone taking one past 100 yards or more, although I'm sure it happens. You generally hunt moose by calling them in close to you. My "moose rifle" is a 44 mag lever gun. My caribou rifle is a 243 Winchester, and I took one last year at 312 yards with it.

I'd also suggest you keep your 308 and save your rifle money to spend on a good big bore revolver for bears. If you own a 308/30-06 rifle, a 12 or 20 ga with an open choke for grouse and hare and a closed choke for waterfowl, you can hunt anything in Alaska, bar none. Add an optional revolver for bear defense, and you've covered all your bases with 3 guns. Spend the money on ammo and practice.

 

[Narwhal]

I live in Anchorage. Came up from the south in 05. Never looked back.

My first piece of advice is don't move to any part of town north of Dimond Blvd, and don't go to any of "the views" (Mountainview or Fairview.) This place is getting to be really bad for crime.

As for hunting rifles, I would just keep your 308 or grab a 30-06. the 338s and 375s are very popular up here, but I just don't see them doing anything you need that the 06 won't. Moose live in muskeg (mostly), and I don't think I've ever heard of anyone taking one past 100 yards or more, although I'm sure it happens. You generally hunt moose by calling them in close to you. My "moose rifle" is a 44 mag lever gun. My caribou rifle is a 243 Winchester, and I took one last year at 312 yards with it.

I'd also suggest you keep your 308 and save your rifle money to spend on a good big bore revolver for bears. If you own a 308/30-06 rifle, a 12 or 20 ga with an open choke for grouse and hare and a closed choke for waterfowl, you can hunt anything in Alaska, bar none. Add an optional revolver for bear defense, and you've covered all your bases with 3 guns. Spend the money on ammo and practice.

Thanks. I'll be living west of downtown near the inlet, so I guess I can't follow the diamond blvd advice. For shotguns I have an 870 wingmaster (12), Berettta A391 Xtrema2 (12), and a benelli montifeltro (20). The beretta & benelli have 5 screw in chokes, I think the 870 is an IC but I can get other barrels for it easily enough. I have S&W model 327 and 340 revolvers in .357 mag but will probably be picking up a 4" 629 in .44 mag once I arrive. Aside from the potential .375 acquisition I need to figure out how many of my 9mm/.40 auto pistols and AR-15's to bring. Also have 3x M14's in .308 and a Larue OBR AR-10 type in .308 in addition to the R700.

Right now I'm leaning toward shipping a box of half a dozen handguns a few 9's and .40 semi autos, probably my little j frame .357, via UPS to an FFL in AK then bringing my two SBR's AR15's and suppressors with as checked luggage on the airline when I move (due to the logistical complications of shipping NFA). Then I will ship the Remington 700 and the Beretta A391 via USPS since they will do long guns cheaply. Unfortunately the shipping container we are moving most of our stuff in forbids firearms.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

Thanks. I'll be living west of downtown near the inlet, so I guess I can't follow the diamond blvd advice.

I work in that area, but I generally just transit through.

will probably be picking up a 4" 629 in .44 mag once I arrive.

Yeah they're plentiful on the used market up here. Check out alaskalist.com and click on "guns/hunting."

Right now I'm leaning toward shipping a box of half a dozen handguns a few 9's and .40 semi autos, probably my little j frame .357, via UPS to an FFL in AK

EDC Alaska on Northern Lights Blvd is the cheapest and easiest to work with.

Best range in the area is Birchwood Recreational Shooting Park about a 30 min drive north of town on the Glenn Hwy. They have trap, skeet, hand gun to 50 yrds, rifle to 300 yrds (7 ranges in all). They run a USPSA type league as well as 2 gun and 3 gun. Avoid the state-owned and operated Rabbit Creek Range south of town. Zero oversight and I've seen a lot of unsafe stuff there. (I live within er shot of it, yet i drive 40 mins one-way to Birchwood 1-2 times per week.

Another option is Upper Susitna Shooter's Association in Talkeetna. ALmost a 2 hr drive but I believe they have a 1k yard range.